Persistent authentication system incorporating one time pass codes

ABSTRACT

A method of maintaining ongoing authentication of a user of an application without the need to enter and re-enter a username and a corresponding password for each session initiated between a client side application residing on a client side platform and a server; and wherein the password is not stored on the server; the method comprising utilising an unbroken chain of one-time pass codes; each pass code in the chain being unique to the username and client side application; each pass code renewed periodically and preferably at least once during each said session.

The present invention relates to a persistent authentication systemincorporating one time pass codes and more particularly, but notexclusively such a system which does not require a user of the system toenter and re-enter a username and a corresponding password for a usersession initiated by the user.

BACKGROUND

The use of usernames and passwords is well known in the art. A growingproblem exists where the server side storage of passwords is becomingmore prone to attack and the burden on users to use different and securepasswords across multiple web sites has introduced inconvenience,inordinate complication and continuing security exposure.

Attempts to solve this problem include device hardware fingerprinting orother multi factor authentication such as biometrics. These are used inan attempt to bolster the security and reduce the exposure of problemsassociated with standard username and password authentication systems.However, typically they only add more steps of complexity andinconvenience to an already burdensome process.

One example of such an attempt is U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,296 to IBM thecontent of which is incorporated herein by cross reference. Its solutionis outlined in claim 1 thereof which reads:

A method of authenticating a client to a Web server connectable to adistributed file system of a distributed computing environment, thedistributed computing environment including a security service forreturning a credential to a user authenticated to access the distributedfile system, comprising the steps of:

-   -   responsive to receipt by the Web server of a user id and        password from the client, executing a login protocol with the        security service and storing a credential resulting therefrom;    -   returning to the client a persistent client state object having        an identifier therein; and    -   having the client use the persistent client state object        including the identifier in lieu of a user id and password to        obtain subsequent access to Web documents in the distributed        file system.        This arrangement can be interpreted as utilising a “cookie” as        the persistent client state object. This arrangement suffers        from significant security issues.

Further prior art examples (all of which are included by crossreference) include:

U.S. Pat. No. 8,447,977 Canon K K whose main claim reads:

A method of authenticating a device with a server over a network, themethod comprising the steps of:

-   -   establishing, by the device, a secure connection with the        server;    -   communicating, by the device, identification information of the        device to the server, wherein the identification information        uniquely identifies the device to the server and is pre-stored        in the device;    -   determining, by the server, the credibility of the device using        the identification information communicated by the device; and    -   in a case where the server determines that the device is        credible:    -   creating, by the server, a first authentication token for the        device, the first authentication token indicating that the        device is credible;    -   storing, by the server, the first authentication token;    -   transferring, by the server, the first authentication token to        the device using the secure connection; and    -   storing, by the device, the first authentication token;    -   wherein the method further comprises the steps of:    -   establishing, by the device, a secure re-connection with the        server; and    -   authenticating, by the server and over the secure re-connection,        the device using the first authentication token stored by the        device.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,322 Sun MicroSystems whose Main Claim Reads

A session credential for use in a security architecture controllingaccess to one or more information resources, the session credentialcomprising:

-   -   a principal identifier uniquely identifying a principal; and    -   an encoding of authorization accorded by the security        architecture after prior authentication of a login credential        corresponding to the principal,    -   the principal identifier and authorization encoding being        cryptographically secured and allowing the security architecture        to evaluate sufficiency of the authorization for access to the        one or more information resources without re-authentication of        the login credentials.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,768 First Data whose Main Claim Reads

A method for transferable authentication, by which a user accessing afirst computer can be authenticated to a second computer remote fromsaid first computer, without necessarily requiring the user toexplicitly identify himself to said second computer, comprising thesteps of:

-   -   at a user's computer, accessing said first computer;    -   authenticating said user to said first computer;    -   receiving from said first computer a cookie including said first        computer's digital voucher of a user characteristic, said        voucher being cryptographically assured by said first computer,        said user characteristic being encrypted and incorporated into        said digital voucher by said first computer using a client side        public key confidential to said first computer and said second        computer but unknown to said user, said client side public key        being cryptographically assured using an asymmetric key of at        least one of said first computer and said second computer;    -   transmitting said cryptographically assured client side public        key to said second computer via said user's computer; and    -   sending at least a portion of said cookie, including said        voucher, to said second computer configured to:    -   authenticate said voucher without necessarily requiring said        user to explicitly identify himself to said second computer;    -   extract said user characteristic from said voucher; and    -   perform an action based on said user characteristic.

As stated above cookies have particular security issues and have ongoingadoption issues these days.

Also disclosed are the following which disclose alternative ways ofseeking to secure systems without the use of repetitive password entryand explicit communication of the password from one machine to another.These systems can be more complex including the use of a third partymachine to perform verification/authentication.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,531 AT&T

U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,592 Netscape

U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,480 Computer Assoc

U.S. Pat. No. 7,523,490 Microsoft

U.S.20110320820 IBM

U.S.20130219472 A1 QSAN

Embodiments of the present invention are designed to address theseissues.

Notes

The term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used inthis specification in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including”,and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”.

The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of theinvention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein iscitable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of personsskilled in the art in any country.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Broadly, the concept encapsulated in embodiments of the presentinvention is to rely on two pieces of information for a persistentauthentication process and corresponding system and apparatus:

In a preferred, detailed form, a new key pair is generated by the clientand passed to the server for each session. Communication for asubsequent session is enabled only if there is a match between thisserver stored public key and the public key on the client matched tothat user (user ID).

Broadly, stated another way, in accordance with a preferred embodimentthere is effected an unbroken chain of one-time pass codes tocharacterise the user when using the client side application which talksto the server. In a particular form the one-time pass codes are actuallythe public keys of the client generated key pairs. In a furtherparticular preferred form, there is enabled an aspect of renewal wherebythe one-time pass codes keep getting replaced at regular intervals (in apreferred form preferably once per connection session at least).

Accordingly in one broad form of the invention there is provided amethod of maintaining ongoing authentication of a user of an applicationwithout the need to enter and re-enter a username and a correspondingpassword for each session initiated between a client side applicationresiding on a client side platform and a server; and wherein thepassword is not stored on the server; the method comprising utilising anunbroken chain of one-time pass codes; each pass code in the chain beingunique to the username and client side application; each pass coderenewed periodically and preferably at least once during each saidsession.

Preferably the pass code comprises a client side public key which ismaintained persistent on both the client side platform and the serveruntil replaced by the next client side public key in the chain of passcodes.

Preferably the client side public key comprises a public key of a PKIkey pair.

Preferably the corresponding client side private key is not shared withthe server.

In a further broad form of the invention there is disclosed a deviceincluding a processor in communication with a memory adapted to executean application; said device maintaining ongoing authentication of a userof an application executable on the device without the need to enter andre-enter a username and a corresponding password for each sessioninitiated between a client side application residing on a client sideplatform on the device and a remote server; and wherein the password isnot stored on the server; the method comprising utilising an unbrokenchain of one-time pass codes; each pass code in the chain being uniqueto the username and client side application; each pass code renewed atleast once during each said session.

Preferably the pass code comprises a client side public key which ismaintained persistent on both the client side platform and the serveruntil replaced by the next client side public key in the chain of passcodes.

Preferably the client side public key comprises a public key of a PKIkey pair.

Preferably the corresponding client side private key is not shared withthe server.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a systemincluding a device having a processor in communication with a memoryadapted to execute an application; said device maintaining ongoingauthentication of a user of an application executable on the devicewithout the need to enter and re-enter a username and a correspondingpassword for each session initiated between a client side applicationresiding on a client side platform on the device and a remote server,the system deriving a first and second item of data; said first item ofdata comprising:

“Something you have” which in a preferred form is a client side publickey,

The second item of data comprising “Something you know”.

Preferably said second item of data comprises a user PIN/password whichis used to create a private key for any given session.

Preferably said second item of data comprises any form of personallyidentifiable information including but not limited to thumb prints orother biometrics which is used to create a private key for any givensession.

Preferably a new key pair is generated by the client and passed to theserver for each session and wherein communication for a subsequentsession is enabled only if there is a match between this server storedpublic key and the public key on the client matched to that user (userID).

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided aplatform including at least a processor in communication with a memorywhich executes code to perform a method of authentication of a user;said method comprising effecting an unbroken chain of one-time passcodes to characterise the user when using a client side applicationexecuting on said platform which communicates with a remote server overthe Internet.

Preferably the one-time pass codes are the public key of the clientgenerated key pair.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a systemfor maintaining ongoing authentication of a user of an applicationwithout the need to enter and re-enter a username and a correspondingpassword for each session initiated between a client side applicationresiding on a client side platform and a server, said system utilising astring of one time passcodes which are renewable and wherein renewal iseffected by the passcodes being replaced at regular intervals.

In a preferred form an interval comprises a once per session connectioninterval.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1—Main components of the example embodiment

FIG. 2—Control process for an initial use of the example embodiment

FIG. 3—Control process for a non initial use of the example embodiment

FIG. 4—is a block diagram of a method of construction of a private keyaccording to a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Broadly, the idea is to rely on two pieces of information for initialand then ongoing authentication:

In a preferred, detailed form, a new public key is generated by theclient and passed to the server for each session. Communication for asubsequent session is enabled only if there is a match between thisserver stored public key and the public key on the client matched tothat user (user ID).

Broadly, stated another way, in accordance with a preferred embodimentthere is effected an unbroken chain of one-time pass codes tocharacterise the user when using the client side application which talksto the server. In a particular form the one-time pass codes are actuallypublic keys. In a further particular preferred form, there is enabled anaspect of renewal whereby the one-time pass codes keep getting replacedat regular intervals (once per session at least).

Disclosed is an example embodiment that uses an unbroken chain of onetime pass codes as a surrogate for a password in a traditional usernameand password authentication system.

FIG. 1 shows the key components of an example embodiment. When a user,using a unique user ID 23, connects with a server, an encryption andauthentication system such as a public key encryption exchange istypically used.

Typically the user has a client side application 24 that produces a keypair 10 that is used to communicate with the server which uses its ownkey pair 11. In the known practice of public key cryptography theclients private key 12 is used with the public key of the server 14 toencrypt a message and the server uses the public key of the client 13and the private key of the server 15 to decrypt the sent message.

Once the identity of the sender 10 and receiver 11 has been verified thetwo parties share a secret password 17 which is used for high speedencryption and decryption of an encrypted message 16.

Typically the encrypted message 16 uses a secret password 17 that isonly used for the length of the communication session, after which thepassword 17 is discarded and no longer used.

In the example embodiment, the above key exchange and encryption processis expanded to include a second key pair set 18 that is generated by theclient. This key pair generation 18 is used to uniquely link the currentauthenticated session with the next authentication system between theclient and the server.

This key pair 18 includes a private key 20 which is stored locally onthe client device and a public key 19 which is also stored locally. Thestored client public key is also shared with and transferred to theserver 25 which then links a stored reference to the unique user ID 21of the person currently using the client with a stored copy of theclient's public key 22.

During subsequent connections between the client and the server, thestored and shared client public key 19, 22, the server's public key 14and the stored private key on the client 20 are used as current clientside public key pairs and an additional key pair is then generated andstored for the follow on session.

FIG. 2 discloses the control process of the initial session of theexample embodiment. A user uses an application on the client side 30 ofthe communication to interact with a server 31.

Initially the user connects to a server that uses persistent one timekeys with unique IDs 32. Initially the server and the client use atraditional public key encryption session 33 to secure communicationsbetween the client 30 and the server 31.

Next the user is confirmed as wanting to use persistent one time codes34 and the users unique ID is captured or retrieved from the user orfrom storage on the client and sent to the server 35. Subsequently theserver requests that the client generate a public key pair for use inthe next session 36. The client then generates a public key pair 37which is securely stored at the client for use in the next session 38and the public key of the key pair is shared with the server 39.

The clients public key that is to be used for the next session is storedon the server using the users unique ID 40. Once this step has beenconfirmed the existing SSL, TLS or similar connection is used to securethe ongoing communication between the client and the server until thesession is terminated or times out 41.

FIG. 3 discloses the control process of the non initial sessions of theexample embodiment. A user uses an application on the client side 60 ofthe communication to interact with a server 61.

Initially the user connects to a server that uses persistent one timekeys with unique ID's 62. Initially the server and the client use atraditional public key encryption session 63 to secure communicationsbetween the client 60 and the server 61.

Next the unique ID is captured or retrieved from the user or fromstorage on the client 64. Next the stored client key pair that werestored during the previous session are retrieved using the current usersunique user ID 65. Then the users unique ID and the previously storedclient public key are shared with the server 66.

The server then searches it's own user database for the users unique IDand retrieves the previously saved client public key 67 for comparisonwith the shared client public key from the client 68. If the two keys donot match the server informs the user and suggests various measures toaddress the problem 70. If a match does occur 69, the server thenrequests 71 that a second public key pair be generated by the client 72and the key pair is subsequently stored 73. Additionally the public keyof the key pair just generated 72 is shared with the server for use inthe next session 74. The server then stores the next client public keyto be used with the users unique ID 75 and the current key pairs of boththe client and the server are used for ongoing communication between theclient and the server until the session is terminated or times out 76.

The result is a persistent chain of one time codes in the form of clientpublic keys that can be used to establish and perpetuate a secureconnection between a client system and a server system over multiple andongoing sessions.

Alternative Embodiments

The example embodiment uses the generation and linking of a series ofclient side public keys that are stored on both the client side and theserver side as a persistent identifier for the purposes ofauthentication. An alternative embodiment could use a chain of TLSsession keys such as shared AES pass codes as a persistent identifier.In this case each time a shared client side public key is used, a followon key is generated and stored on both sides for use in the nextsession. The advantage of using a client side public key as thepersistent identifier is that the client side private key is not sharedwith the server, unlike in the case of a TLS session key, and thereforeadds a level of security to the system.

In the example embodiment the client is used to generate key pairs forthe process to use. In an alternative embodiment the server could beused to generate key pairs and share them with the client for use infollow on sessions.

The example embodiment shares a server stored copy of the next clientpublic key, with a shared copy of the client public key coming from theclient during the current session. An alternative embodiment could useany equivalent of the client public key for comparison purposesincluding but not limited to a checksum or hash of the client publickey.

Further Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 4 and in a particular preferred form anembodiment of the present invention reliant on two pieces of informationin accordance with a method of construction of a private key accordingto a further embodiment.

“Something you have” which in a preferred form is the client side publickey

“Something you know” which in a preferred form is the user PIN/passwordwhich is used to create a private key for any given session.

In a further enhancement of the example embodiment the private key ofthe client key pair can be linked to a specific user of the clientdevice to enforce two factor authentication. This is achieved byrequiring the user to enter a PIN or other “thing that the user mustknow” with “a thing the user must have” in this case a required privatekey of a valid client key pair in a two factor authentication using theexample embodiment.

In this enhancement the private key 100 of the client key pair 101 isbroken into two components 102 103. The first component is a PIN 102that is chosen by the user to verify their identity in future sessions.This PIN 102 is subtracted from a complete private key 100 to produce adifferential key element 103. The differential key element 103 cannot beused as a successful private key 100 in a client key pair 101 unless theuser adds a correct PIN 102 to the correct differential key element 103in order to produce a useable private key 100 of useable key pair 101.

The differential key element can be safely stored 104 on the clientdevice for use in the next session because the element 104 cannot besuccessfully used without the required PIN 102.

In practice the PIN 102 would be requested of the user at the beginningof each session, then added to the differential key element 103 in orderto establish successful public key data encryption and decryption.

In addition the PIN 102 would be temporarily stored on the client andthen used to generate a suitable differential key element 103 for thenext session private key 20.

The example embodiment show the use of a PIN as a “thing the user mustknow” in order to achieve two factor authentication. An alternativeembodiment could use any form of personally identifiable informationincluding but not limited to thumb prints or other biometrics.

The example embodiment uses subtraction to produce a differential keyelement by subtracting a PIN from a private key of a client side keypair. An alternative embodiment could use any calculation that allowsthe personally identifiable factor to be combined with a second fileelement in order to produce a useable private key in a client side keypair.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention andmodifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made theretowithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Embodiments of the invention may be applied in contexts whereauthentication of apparatus or an apparatus plus user combination isrequired to be verified prior to further communication with thatapparatus.

1. A method of maintaining ongoing authentication of a user of anapplication without the need to enter and re-enter a username and acorresponding password for each session initiated between a client sideapplication residing on a client side platform and a server; and whereinthe password is not stored on the server; the method comprisingutilising an unbroken chain of one-time pass codes; each pass code inthe chain being unique to the username and client side application; eachpass code renewed at least once during each said session.
 2. The methodof claim 1 wherein the pass code comprises a client side public keywhich is maintained persistent on both the client side platform and theserver until replaced by the next client side public key in the chain ofpass codes.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the client side public keycomprises a public key of a PKI key pair.
 4. The method of claim 3wherein the corresponding client side private key is not shared with theserver.
 5. A method of maintaining ongoing authentication of a user ofan application without the need to enter and re-enter a username and acorresponding password for each session initiated between a client sideapplication residing on a client side platform and a server, the methodderiving a first and second item of data; said first item datacomprising: “Something you have” which in a preferred form is the clientside public key The second item of data comprising “Something you know”.6. The method of claim 5 wherein said second item of data comprises auser PIN/password which is used to create a private key for any givensession.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said second item of datacomprises any form of personally identifiable information including butnot limited to thumb prints or other biometrics which is used to createa private key for any given session.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein anew key pair is generated by the client and passed to the server foreach session. Communication for a subsequent session is enabled only ifthere is a match between this server stored public key and the publickey on the client matched to that user (user ID).
 9. A method ofauthentication of a user; said method comprising effecting an unbrokenchain of one-time pass codes to characterise the user when using aclient side application which communicates with a server.
 10. The methodof claim 9 wherein the one-time pass codes are the public key of theclient generated key pair.
 11. A method of maintaining ongoingauthentication of a user of an application without the need to enter andre-enter a username and a corresponding password for each sessioninitiated between a client side application residing on a client sideplatform and a server, said method comprising utilising a string of onetime passcodes which are renewable and wherein renewal is effected bythe passcodes being replaced at regular intervals.
 12. The method ofclaim 11 wherein an interval comprises once per session connection. 13.The method of claim 11 wherein a key pair includes a private key whichis stored locally on the client device and a public key which is alsostored locally and wherein the stored client public key is also sharedwith and transferred to the server which then links a stored referenceto the unique user ID of the person currently using the client with astored copy of the clients public key.
 14. The method of claim 13wherein during subsequent connections between the client and the server,the stored and shared client public key, the servers public key and thestored private key on the client are used as current client side publickey pairs and an additional key pair is then generated and stored forthe follow on session.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the unique IDis captured or retrieved from the user or from storage on the client andthen the stored client key pair that was stored during the previoussession is retrieved using the current users unique user ID followingwhich the users unique ID and the previously stored client public keyare shared with the server.
 16. A device including a processor incommunication with a memory adapted to execute an application; saiddevice maintaining ongoing authentication of a user of an applicationexecutable on the device without the need to enter and re-enter ausername and a corresponding password for each session initiated betweena client side application residing on a client side platform on thedevice and a remote server; and wherein the password is not stored onthe server; the method comprising utilising an unbroken chain ofone-time pass codes; each pass code in the chain being unique to theusername and client side application; each pass code renewed at leastonce during each said session.
 17. The device of claim 16 wherein thepass code comprises a client side public key which is maintainedpersistent on both the client side platform and the server untilreplaced by the next client side public key in the chain of pass codes.18. The device of claim 17 wherein the client side public key comprisesa public key of a PKI key pair.
 19. The device of claim 17 or 18 whereinthe corresponding client side private key is not shared with the server.20-27. (canceled)